Maine and Maryland Vote For Gay Marriage — History Is Made and Key Barrier Is Broken

Voters in Maryland approved a ballot measure today that would grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry and access to all of the state rights and obligations afforded to married couples.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland was a member of the coalition that supported the initiative. Voters in Maine also approved a similar measure, making this election the first in which voters approved marriage for same-sex couples through a ballot initiative.

“Today we joyously celebrate with the Maryland couples and families who will no longer be treated as legal strangers,” said Susan Goering, executive director of the ACLU of Maryland. “We also applaud Marylanders for affirming fairness and standing up for the right of same-sex couples to be treated equally under the law. The ACLU of Maryland is proud of our work on this issue over many years, and for the opportunity to partner with so many others around the state, and around the country, in rectifying an historic injustice.”

“With this historic election, there can be no denying that tonight is a watershed moment for gay and lesbian families in America,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. “Not long ago, marriage for same-sex couples was unimaginable. In a remarkably short time, we have seen courts start to rule in favor of the freedom to marry, then legislatures affirm it, and now the people vote for it as well. Today’s election illustrates both the astonishing pace of change on this issue as well as America’s commitment to fairness for everyone.”

From Freedom to Marry:

Maine today became the first state to approve the freedom to marry for same-sex couples through a majority vote on a ballot measure. Maine is expected to begin issuing marriage licenses in mid-December.

“Today, a majority in Maine voted in favor of loving and committed same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon. “Now the commitment gay and lesbian couples have made in life will be respected equally under the law, celebrated before their loved ones, and called what it is: marriage.”

“It’s hard to overstate the national significance of this vote,” Solomon continued. “For years, our opponents have argued that we could not win a majority vote at the ballot. Today, Maine voters proved them wrong, standing up for the Golden Rule and for freedom for all Mainers.”

The centerpiece of the three-year campaign was a robust field effort. Volunteers and organizers made more than a million telephone calls, knocked on nearly 300,000 doors, and had 275,000 one-on-one conversations with voters.

“We congratulate Mainers United for Marriage Campaign Director Matt McTighe for the extraordinary effort he has run, as well as all the coalition partners, and particularly Equality Maine and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, for their steadfast commitment to this fight,” said Solomon.

About the Author

Wayne Besen is the Founding Executive Director of Truth Wins Out and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

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16 Comments

Finally! This makes two more states where marriage equality will be a reality. And if WA goes the way it is trending, that will make yet a third. Hopefully the referendum in MN will be defeated.

Peter HargmierNovember 7, 2012 at 4:39 am -

This is fantastic news, and my heartiest congratulations go out to all those who helped make this happen.

Somewhere in the distance there can be heard a small “pop” as Bryan Fischer’s head explodes!

Peter HargmierNovember 7, 2012 at 6:27 am -

Maine, Maryland, Washington, Minnesota.

Win, win, win and win.

The tide has indeed turned.

Wayne BesenNovember 7, 2012 at 8:43 am -

Biggest night in gay rights history at the polls. Unreal!!

DaveTheWaveNovember 7, 2012 at 8:45 am -

Victories like this are due to the hard work of people like Wayne Besen and all the others who work on TWO and other web sites that stump for fairness and equality for all human beings. Thank you all!!!!

John PatrickNovember 7, 2012 at 8:54 am -

Now that it looks like we have defeated the NOM forces in four states, we will see what the SCOTUS decides about the decision overturning Prop 8 in Federal Court. Hopefully they will take a pass on hearing the appeal, thus returning marriage equality to the great state of California.

Gary (NJ)November 7, 2012 at 9:30 am -

I’m in awe that we won in all 4 of those states. I expected maybe 1 or 2 if we were lucky. Once again this proves MLK’s famous quote about the arc of the moral universe bending towards justice. It would be nice if Mags Gallagher, Brian Fischer and the rest of those mutants would crawl back into the woodwork, but stupid people usually don’t know when they’ve LOST!
One final thought, despite all the hate propaganda, threats, and money *wasted* on this issue by the hierarchy of the RCC, the people, as well as many, many Catholic voters didn’t fall for their pharisaical b******t and are finally treating us the way Christ taught them/us to.

Gary (NJ)November 7, 2012 at 9:49 am -

Here is a great video posted on Fr. Geoff Farrow’s website. He has commented here on TWO in the past.

Poor NOM. Maybe they’ll disband and get real jobs now that they’ve lost their #1 talking point: “Activist judges overturn the will of the people.”
This is so historic and makes me so proud to be an American. Here’s to a fantastic 4 more years.

Ben in OaklandNovember 7, 2012 at 10:51 am -

Yahooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

And…

NEENER. NEENER. NEENER.

For the first time in a while, I’m proud to be an American, and have hope for our country.

Paul DouglasNovember 7, 2012 at 4:33 pm -

I used to wish that James Dobson had died of his heart attack some 15 or so years ago. Today I regret that I ever felt that way. I am so glad that he gets to see states actually voting for the privilege of marriage being extended to same-gendered couples. I want him to be fully and completely aware of his failure to deny us the same privileges that he and his co-religionists enjoy and flaunt in our faces every day. I want him to live a long, long life so he can see the utter waste of his energy that he has spent on his vendetta against us. I wish the same long, long life for the rest of the motley theorepublican fellow-travelers as well.

May they wallow in our freedom!

iDavidNovember 7, 2012 at 6:54 pm -

This is truly awesome. If Cali gets gay marriage this month, that will be four states bagging gay marriage permanently in ONE MONTH. Nice.

The GOP Exodus and NOM have some serious growing up to do,,,,,fast,,,,,if they are to retain the Republican Party in any conceivable positive light. Teaching citizens through example how to be inauthentic untrustworthy and un-American, is a class they really should shut down post haste. Meaning, they disappear from vew, entirely.

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Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights the "ex-gay" myth and antigay religious extremism.

TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes wrongdoing. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for truth, integrity, and equality for sexual minorities.